Through ILRIGís education programmes and research we aim to bring the experiences of working and poor people in other countries to Southern African organisations, and to draw on this information to inform the search for alternative policies.

ILRIGís objective is also to assist in the development of strong bonds of international solidarity between social movements and trade unions. ILRIG conducts its research in collaboration with organisations and networks internationally. We take this information to organisations by running education courses and training programmes, and producing popular publications.

Since 2002 ILRIG has convened an annual Globalisation School - a week-long event which draws activists from all over Africa and elsewhere to an occasion combining debate and learning and cultural events.

In addition to publishing popular booklets on international issues, ILRIG also produces a Bi-monthly newsletter called Workers World News. We also host open public forums on the last thursday of each month.

Current Research Areas

* Globalisation and the current capitalist crisis * South Africa's economic and Political role in Africa * Latin America as a site of alternatives to globalisation-Progressive state initiatives and Social movements * The Impact of globalisation on democracy * Experiments in broadening the scope of popular power * Women's activism and leadership in social movements and trade unions * Women and public health * Electricity governance in South Africa - What spaces for public input and accountability? * National industrial Unions - what obstacles to organising non-permanent, irregular workers? * Case studies for new forms of worker organisations - in south Africa and Internationally * Impact of Globalistaion on Young people and forms of organisation for their social mobilisation * Analysis of Agriculture sector case referrals to the CCMA * HIV-AIDS and unpaid care work * The 2010 World Cup - costs and claims

Education Areas

* Economic literacy for Activists * Understanding Globalisation and the capitalist crisis * South Africaís role in Africa and the world * Building womenís activism and Leadership * Feminist Education methods * Alternative to globalisation - Including case studies in SA, Latin America and elsewhere * New forms of trade unions and organising * Organising youth under globalisation * Neo-liberalism and state policies and the struggles over services- water, electricity and housing * The changing role of the state under globalisation * Experiments in broadening the scope of popular power